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Wieters on missing out on being an All-Star, the rotation and more

Matt Wieters played in the All-Star game in 2011 in Arizona and last year in Kansas City, but he didn't make the American League team this year.

"It's always a fun experience to go to the All-Star game, but at the same time you can get a lot of value out of three days off and be able to rest and get strong for the second half," he said.

At the All-Star break last season, Wieters was batting .247 with 12 homers, 44 RBIs and a .758 OPS. As the break for 2013 approaches, he is batting .229 with 12 homers, 44 RBIs and a .703 OPS. He'd obviously like to work on improving that batting average.

"We can't change how things have gone in the first half. We just keep coming to the park every day with a positive attitude, ready to go," he said.

Wei-Yin Chen returned to the Orioles rotation last night and provided the starting five a nice boost with a seven-inning outing. Wieters is encouraged by the rotation now with the addition of Scott Feldman and the return of Chen.

"We have five guys that we feel will go out every fifth day and give us a chance to win," Wieters said. "I think they are excited to try and build off what Wei-Yin did last night."

The Orioles are now 50-42 and have 50 wins by the All-Star break for the first time since the 1997 team was 55-30.

"We've had different parts in the first half that have stepped up," Wieters said. "It is kind of like last year where we were the sum of all parts and didn't have one group carry the team.

"The offense has definitely been able to have a good first half, but at the same time, the bullpen has been strong again and the starting pitchers have shown glimpses. I think for the second half, they will take on the challenge to improve and get six, seven and eight innings and turn the game over to the bullpen at the end."